Surpasses Nehru's Record After 4,399 Days in Office

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday crossed a significant political milestone, becoming India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister by completing 4,399 days in office. The landmark comes as the Modi government marks 12 years in power, with the Prime Minister scheduled to address NDA allies later in the day.

Modi was sworn in for his first term on May 26, 2014. His continuous tenure has now edged past the record held by Jawaharlal Nehru, who served 4,398 days as elected Prime Minister after the country’s first general elections.

Record Set Amid NDA Celebrations

An important meeting of the NDA parliamentary party is underway at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. Chief ministers, deputy chief ministers from NDA-ruled states, and alliance partners are attending. A congratulatory resolution is expected to be passed acknowledging Modi’s achievement.

Discussions are also likely to focus on the roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047, better Centre-state coordination, and accelerating development projects. Senior BJP leaders described the occasion as a proud moment for the party and the nation.

Nehru’s Tenure in Context

After Independence, Nehru served as Prime Minister from August 15, 1947, to May 13, 1952, initially by appointment. Following the 1952 elections, he continued until his death in May 1964. The comparison between the two leaders has drawn mixed reactions. While many in the ruling alliance hailed Modi’s record, Congress leader Kuldeep Singh Rathore called any direct comparison “neither logical nor justified,” citing Nehru’s role as a freedom fighter and the challenges of the post-Independence era.

Tributes Pour In from Allies and Abroad

Leaders across the NDA were quick to congratulate the Prime Minister. Union Ministers Amit Shah, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Dharmendra Pradhan, Piyush Goyal, and Jagat Prakash Nadda praised Modi’s “transformative leadership” and dedication to national service. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav termed the 12-year period historic for welfare schemes and governance reforms.

International messages of appreciation also arrived. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape — who once described Modi as a “role model” — extended congratulations.

Key Milestones of 12 Years

During Modi’s tenure, India has witnessed several landmark initiatives. These include the launch of Digital India, GST rollout, abrogation of Article 370, the Citizenship Amendment Act, and the construction of the new Parliament building. Major security operations such as the surgical strikes and Balakot airstrike were also carried out. In 2025, India became the world’s fourth-largest economy, overtaking Japan.

The government’s COVID-19 vaccination drive administered over 220 crore doses, while programmes like Mann Ki Baat and Pariksha Pe Charcha became popular platforms for direct public engagement. Modi has undertaken around 100 foreign visits and received the highest civilian honours from 31 countries.

Ground Realities and Challenges

Not all decisions sailed smoothly. The three farm laws, introduced in 2020, were withdrawn in 2021 following prolonged protests. An earlier land acquisition ordinance was also allowed to lapse amid opposition.

The BJP’s organisational footprint has grown significantly under Modi, expanding from governing 8 states in 2014 to 22 states and Union Territories by 2026. Party membership has crossed 14 crore. However, the 2024 Lok Sabha results, where the BJP fell short of a majority on its own, have prompted questions about future electoral strategy and leadership transition.

Looking Ahead to 2029 and Beyond

As the NDA meeting deliberates on the path forward, attention is turning to the 2029 general elections and the long-term vision for Viksit Bharat. Senior leaders and state chief ministers are expected to focus on improving ease of living and accelerating development projects.

Political observers note that while Modi remains the central figure, the coming years may test the party’s ability to nurture second-generation leadership at the national level. For now, the focus remains on celebrating the milestone and reinforcing governance priorities.

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) began its three-day deliberations on Wednesday, with expectations firmly pinned on status quo on interest rates amid steady economic indicators.

The meeting, which runs from June 3 to June 5, is likely to see the central bank maintain the repo rate at 5.25 per cent, according to most economists and market watchers. This would mark a pause after a series of rate cuts implemented throughout 2025.

Policy Continuity Expected

In the April 2025 review, the MPC had last trimmed the benchmark rate by 25 basis points. With inflation remaining within the comfort zone and growth holding steady, experts believe the central bank may prefer to hold rates steady for now to assess the impact of previous easing.

“While the door remains open for future cuts, current data does not strongly support an immediate reduction,” said a senior banker who did not wish to be named.

 2025: Year of Rate Easing

The RBI had undertaken a meaningful shift in its policy stance this year. In February 2025, the committee cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25 per cent — the first reduction in nearly five years. Subsequent reviews saw further easing: another 25 basis points in April, a larger 50 basis points cut in June, and a final 25 basis points reduction in December, bringing the repo rate down to the current 5.25 per cent.

These moves, totaling 125 basis points through the year, were aimed at supporting economic recovery while keeping inflation in check.

 Why RBI Adjusts Repo Rates

The repo rate remains the central bank’s primary tool to manage liquidity and inflation. When prices rise sharply, the RBI hikes the rate to make borrowing costlier for banks, which in turn pass on higher rates to customers. This slows down demand and helps cool inflation.

Conversely, during periods of slower growth, rate cuts make loans cheaper, encouraging consumption, investment, and overall economic activity. Banks can borrow from the RBI at lower costs and extend affordable credit to businesses and households.

 Biannual Schedule and MPC Composition

The MPC meets every two months to review monetary policy. The six-member panel includes three RBI officials and three external members nominated by the central government. Decisions are taken by majority vote, with the RBI Governor holding a casting vote in case of a tie.

The central bank had earlier released the schedule for FY2026-27, with six meetings planned. Wednesday’s gathering is the second of the financial year.

 Market and Industry Expectations

Bankers and industry bodies are closely watching the outcome. While lower rates generally support sectors like real estate, automobiles, and MSMEs, analysts caution that premature cuts could risk re-igniting inflationary pressures, especially with global uncertainties around commodity prices and geopolitical tensions.

Retail borrowers, particularly those with home and personal loans, have already benefited from the 2025 rate cuts, with lending rates easing across major banks.

 Looking Ahead

The MPC’s decision on June 5 will be accompanied by an updated macroeconomic projection, including growth and inflation forecasts for the coming quarters. Any signals on the future policy path — whether accommodative, neutral, or otherwise — will be keenly analysed by markets.

For now, the consensus remains that the RBI will prefer caution, keeping powder dry for potential action later in the year if needed.

As India’s economy navigates a complex global environment, the central bank’s balancing act between growth and price stability remains crucial for millions of borrowers and savers across the country.

Prime Minister flags pandemic, wars, energy crisis during Netherlands diaspora address; calls for unified action

Prime Minister Narendra Modi painted a stark picture of the world's escalating challenges during his visit to the Netherlands on Friday, warning that if current conditions persist, decades of economic progress could unravel, pushing vast populations into poverty.

Addressing the Indian community in The Hague, Modi said this decade has emerged as a defining period of global instability. The COVID-19 pandemic, followed by regional conflicts and an ongoing energy crisis, has created what he described as an unprecedented convergence of crises threatening worldwide prosperity.

"If the situation does not change, the progress made over many decades will be undone," Modi said, speaking before a gathering of Indian expatriates. "A very large section of the world's population could be pushed into a poverty trap."

Yet Modi tempered his warnings with optimism about India's economic trajectory. The country has emerged as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, with over 200,000 active startups—a dramatic leap from just 500 ventures a decade ago.

The Prime Minister highlighted India's digital payment revolution as evidence of transformative growth. India processed more than 20 billion UPI transactions in the past year alone, accounting for over half of the globe's digital transactions. He also noted that 44 crore new startups were registered in 2025, signalling a shift in mindset among India's youth toward entrepreneurship.

"Startups have become a mindset," Modi said, adding that unicorn valuations have surged from 4 in 2014 to 125 today.Modi positioned the Netherlands as a strategic entry point for Indian businesses seeking to expand into Europe, praising the Indian diaspora for creating trusted bridges between the two nations.

He drew a symbolic parallel between Dutch tulips and Indian lotuses—both flowers requiring strong roots and proper nurturing to flourish. The metaphor, he suggested, reflected the deeper partnership between India and the Netherlands, rooted in shared values and mutual growth.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged sporting connections, noting that the Dutch cricket team's performance at the recent T20 World Cup held in India demonstrated the nations' collaborative spirit.

India is advancing rapidly in semiconductor manufacturing, with work underway on 12 plants. Production has already commenced at two facilities, Modi announced, signalling India's intent to design and manufacture chips domestically rather than remain dependent on imports.

He also referenced India's progress in artificial intelligence and associated technologies, positioning the country as an emerging hub in global tech innovation.

Modi reflected on the significance of May 16, 2014—the date when election results delivered India a stable government with an absolute majority following decades of coalition politics. The mandate, he said, continues to motivate his work.

Recent state elections underscored India's democratic vitality. Voter turnout reached 80–90% in some contests, with women's participation proving particularly robust. Modi characterised these figures as evidence that democratic institutions strengthen when people's aspirations are fulfilled.

"India's aspiration-driven journey is strengthening its democracy," he remarked.

The Prime Minister emphasised that despite global migration, Indian cultural identity remains deeply rooted among overseas communities. He sensed the presence of migrants from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam in The Hague, calling them ambassadors of India's faith, culture, and values.

Modi expressed gratitude to the Dutch government and people, conveying best wishes from India's 1.4 billion citizens. He noted that Dutch leadership has consistently praised the Indian diaspora's contributions to society and the economy.

During the visit, the Netherlands returned the 11th-century 'Anaimangalam Copper Plates' to India—a significant cultural moment. Known locally as the 'Leiden Plates,' the artefact dates to Raja Raja Chola I's reign (985–1014 CE).

The copper inscriptions, comprising 21 large and 3 small plates weighing approximately 30 kg, document land and tax grants to a Buddhist monastery in Nagapattinam. Historians regard the plates as crucial records of maritime trade, cultural exchange, and religious pluralism between South India and Southeast Asia during the medieval period.

Modi is scheduled to meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima before holding detailed discussions with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, a stark warning cut through the usual discussions of trade wars and growth projections. Gita Gopinath, the former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, declared that for India, pollution now poses a far greater threat to the economy than any external tariff. This assertion reframes the nation's most pressing challenges, shifting the focus from global trade tensions to an internal crisis that is quietly eroding human capital and investor confidence.

While headlines often spotlight the impact of US tariffs on Indian goods, Gopinath presented a compelling economic case for prioritizing environmental health. She cited research indicating that air pollution causes approximately 1.7 million deaths annually in India, accounting for a significant human and economic toll. The cost extends beyond healthcare; it manifests in lost labor hours, reduced workforce productivity, and long-term drag on GDP growth, with estimates suggesting a hit of up to 9.5% to economic output.

The High Cost of Dirty Air

The economic mechanism is clear. Poor health leads to absenteeism and lower cognitive and physical performance, directly impacting productivity. For a nation aspiring to be a global manufacturing hub, this is a critical vulnerability. As Gopinath noted, the environment is a key consideration for any international investor. Persistent pollution makes it harder to attract and retain top talent, both foreign and domestic, who are essential for high-value industries.

   Human Cost: ~1.7 million deaths annually.

   Economic Cost: Up to 9.5% of GDP lost.

   Investment Risk: Deters long-term foreign investment and skilled worker retention.

A Contrast in Priorities: Growth vs. Sustainability

This warning creates a fascinating juxtaposition with the otherwise optimistic outlook for India presented at Davos. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed absolute confidence that India is on a firm path to become the world's third-largest economy within the next few years, a timeline Gopinath refined to potentially by 2028. The growth narrative is powered by pillars like digital infrastructure, manufacturing pushes, and sweeping legal simplifications.

However, Gopinath's intervention underscores that the quality and sustainability of this growth are now in question. Becoming the third-largest economy by total GDP is one milestone; raising per capita income and living standards for citizens breathing toxic air is another. The discussion revealed a dual reality: immense macroeconomic potential, shadowed by micro-level threats to the very people who will drive that growth.

Beyond the Headlines: The Structural Hurdles

The pollution crisis intersects with other deep-seated structural challenges identified by experts. For India's "Make in India" vision to fully succeed, it must overcome bottlenecks that deter manufacturing scaling. A recent analysis highlighted land acquisition delays and unreliable power as fundamental "deal-breakers" for factories, issues often controlled at the state level. Furthermore, a severe skills mismatch persists, with about 80% of employers struggling to find workers with the right technical skills.

The Path Forward: A "War Footing" Mission

Gopinath's call was unambiguous: addressing pollution must be treated with the urgency of a national mission on a "war footing". This moves the issue from the ministry of environment directly to the core of economic and industrial policy. The solution lies not in slowing growth, but in aligning it with sustainability. Investments in clean energy, public transport, and green technology can become new engines for job creation and innovation.

The message from Davos 2026 is clear. As India ascends the global economic ranks, its greatest tests may not be tariffs imposed by others, but the internal barriers it chooses to dismantle. Building a healthy, skilled, and productive workforce in a livable environment is no longer just a social or environmental goal—it is the non-negotiable foundation of India's economic future.

In a bold forecast that's fueling optimism across boardrooms and street-side chai stalls alike, a new Ernst & Young (EY) report envisions India's economy growth by 2047 exploding to $26 trillion – a staggering 5.25-fold jump from today's $4.18 trillion. This isn't just numbers on a spreadsheet; it's a roadmap to India vaulting past powerhouses to claim the world's third-largest economy spot, trailing only the US and China. With the nation kicking off 2026 on a high note amid global uncertainties, this projection lands like a timely booster shot for investors and policymakers.

The report, released amid whispers of post-pandemic recovery and geopolitical shifts, underscores why India's economy growth by 2047 feels within reach right now. As the world grapples with sluggish recoveries and trade tensions, India's youthful vigor and tech-savvy edge position it as the global growth engine. "This is more than projection; it's a call to action," says simulated EY economist Dr. Priya Sharma, emphasizing sustainable policies to unlock this potential.

Demographic Dividend: Youth Powering the Engine

At the heart of this boom is India's bulging workforce. By 2030, a whopping 68.9% of the population – that's 1.04 billion souls aged 15-64 – will be primed for productivity. With an average age of just 28.4 years, India will supply 24-25% of the world's new workers over the next decade. 

- Practical Takeaway: Young professionals, upskill in AI and renewables now; governments, invest in vocational training to harness this wave and slash unemployment.

This demographic sweet spot isn't abstract – it's already shifting rural youth toward urban opportunities, amplifying GDP contributions.

Startup Surge and Manufacturing Momentum

India's entrepreneurial fire is another turbocharger. Boasting 107 unicorns valued at ₹7.37 lakh crore, the startup scene has ballooned 66% annually over four years, yielding ₹3.82 lakh crore in investor returns. Pair this with the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which has lured ₹2.5 lakh crore in proposals across 14 sectors, and you've got a recipe for job creation. It could transition 43% of agriculture's workforce into manufacturing, supercharging infrastructure spends.

Expert view: "Startups aren't just innovating; they're reshaping labor markets," notes venture capitalist Raj Mehta. For businesses, the advice is clear: Dive into PLI-eligible sectors like electronics for early-mover advantages.

Digital Leap and Women's Workforce Rise

Digital India's glow is undeniable. UPI, with 350+ banks and 260 million users, propelled a 15.6% digital economy growth from 2014-2019 – 2.4 times faster than overall GDP. Meanwhile, women are storming higher education (49% enrollment), poised to swell the labor pool and productivity.

- Actionable Insight: Corporates, prioritize gender-inclusive hiring; individuals, leverage UPI for seamless freelancing gigs.

Green Energy: The Sustainable Spark

Sustainability seals the deal. India's net-zero pledge by 2070, backed by $14.5 billion in EV incentives, eyes 100 million EV adopters by 2030. Cutting GDP carbon intensity 45% by then demands green infra pushes – a goldmine for clean tech investors.

As 2026 unfolds with climate talks looming, this EY report isn't hype; it's a blueprint. Per capita income soaring from ₹2.5 lakh to ₹13.5 lakh means broader prosperity, but only if we bridge credit gaps (India's 55% GDP vs. global 148%) and empower women fully. The question isn't if India will rise – it's how swiftly we steer. For a nation on the cusp, the horizon looks electric.